Panorama-camera.



No. 789,706. PATBNTED MAY 16, 1905. F J. BAKER.

PANORAMA CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1,1904.

2 SKIRTS-SHEET 1.

Htkomegs.

No. 789,706. PATENTED MAY 16, 1905. P. J. BAKER.

PANORAMA GAMBRA.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, J6 w is mmiizm 2 m.

Witnesses ventor Httomegs.

UNITED STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT OE IcE.

FRANKLIN JAMES BAKER, OF DELRIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GUY H. SNEDDON, OF DELRIO, TEXAS.

PANORAIVIA-CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,706, dated May 16, 1905.

Application filed November 1, 1904. Serial No. 230,973.

- which the correct positioning of the filni opposite the lens shall be facilitated without exposure of the film, in which the degrees of the arc traversed by the structure shall be accurately and readily ascertained, thereby preventing double exposures, and in which all the parts shall be constructed with a view to lightness, practical avoidance of breakage in use, and readiness of repair in case of breakage.

With the above and other objects in view,

- as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a panoramacamera, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of em bodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective taken from the front of a panoramacamera constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view. Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation,

the camera.

section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of the film-holding spool.

The camera of the present invention co1nprises a box 1, having hinged at its front a shelf 2, which is supported in horizontal position by means of braces 3, as usual, the shelf being provided to support the lens-carrier 1, to which is connected an accordion extension 5 of the well-known or any preferred construction. The lens-support and the accordion extension may be folded within the box, as usual, or may be detachably connected therewith, if preferred.

The rear portion of the box is divided into a compartment 6 by a partition 7, having a light-slit S,which extends practically throughout the entire height of the box and is disposed in direct alinement with the axis of the lens, and back of this slit is arranged a post or abutment 9, against which rides the film 10, the latter being held out of contact with the wall of the casing to prevent marring. The slit 8 will be just large enough to permit entrance of the proper amount of light to effeet the film, and the film travels so close to the wall of the casing that there will be no danger of any lateral diffusion of light which would operate to mar the negative. Disposed within the compartment 6 are two spools 11 and 12, the spool 11 being the storage or film-carrying spool and the spool 12 the feed or unwinding spool. The spool 11 comprises a core or body 13 and two end flanges 14, which maybe integral with the core orbe made as separate elements and secured thereto, as shown in Fig. 5. As it is necessary that the spool 11 be removed at the completion of the operation of the camera, it is made detachable from the box, and this is effected through the medium of a shaft 15, which pro jects through a bore in the body and works in a bearing 16, secured to the bottom of the box. The upper end of the shaft is provided with a cone-shaped threaded portion 17, which engages a cone-shaped threaded socket 18 in the upper end of the bore, and the upper end of the shaft, which projects above the top of the casing, carries a crank 19. In the oper ation of the camera the film is wound upon the spool 12, and after the camera has been moved through a complete circle, or a part of a circle, as the case may be, the crank is 1'0- tated to rewind the film upon the spool 11, and when the spool is to be removed the crank is rotated in the opposite direction from that necessary to wind the film thereon, whereupon the threaded portion 17 will free itself from the core, and the shaft will then be free to be withdrawn, whereupon the spool 11 may be removed.

The rotation of the spool 12 is effected through the medium of a shaft 19, the lower end of which projects through the bottom of the box and is secured in a socket 20, carried by a tripod 21, by a set-screw 22, the upper end of the shaft being projected through the top of the box and having connected with it a hand or pointer 23 to traverse a graduated scale 24, which is divided in this instance into three hundred and sixty degrees, the object of which is to notify the operator when the box has made a complete revolution or any desired part of a revolution. Secured near the lower end of the shaft, within the box, is a grooved sheave 25, around which passes a belt or chain 26, that engages the lower portion of the shaft 27 of the spool 12, the shaft being grooved at 28 to receive the belt or chain. The proportions between the sheave 25 and the shaft are, by. preference, such that when the camera makes a complete revolution all the film will be unwound from the spool 11 onto the spool 12; but, as will be obvious, these relations may be varied without departing from the scope of the invention.

The back of the box is closed by a door 29, and one side of the compartment 6 constitutes a door 30, having a red glass sightwindow 31, through which the end of the film attached to the spool 12 maybe inspected to determine when the film is properly positioned thereon. As is well known, the end of a photographic film has attached to it a strip of material, such as celluloid or fabric, which is used to secure the free end of the film to the unwinding-spool, and this end will be provided with a mark by which the operator by inspection through the window 31 will be enabled to determine when sufficient of the film has been. unwound from the spool 11 to begin operations.

In the use of the camera the shaft 19 will be secured to the tripod in the manner described and the pointer L3 will be brought to 0 or 360, as the case maybe. As soon as opera tions are to begin the cap will be removed from the lens, and sim ultan eously therewith the rotation of the camera-box will be started. The

operator by observing the pointer 23 can determine when the complete circle has been traversed, and as soon as the pointer comes opposite 0 the rotation of the box will be stopped and immediately the cap may be ap plied to the lens. The accordion extension will then be housed within the box and the shelf 2 closed, after which the box will be removed from the tripod and the printed film will be removed and the camera again loaded or charged in the manner described.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the camera of this invention is exceedingly simple of construction it combines in a practical manner all the essentials necessary for the production. of a thoroughly-effective device. Moreover, by the employment of the abutment 9 back of the light-slit 8, the operative face of which is preferably rounded or curved, the film willv be smoothed out, and thereby obviate any wrinkling which might otherwise result. Furthermore, the abutment subserves the added function of preventing diffusion of light on. each side of the slit, which is essential in cameras of this character.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a panorama-camera, a compartment having a fixed front wall provided with a light-slit, a rigid abutment arranged back of the slit and spaced therefrom, and a feed and a storage roller within the compartment and having their shafts permanently ournaled in a plane in rear of the abutment.

2. In a panorama-camera, a compartment having a fixed front wall provided with a light-slit, a rigid abutment arranged back of the slit and having the face opposing the slit curved or rounded, and a feed and a storage roller within the compartment and having their shafts permanently journaled in a plane in rear of the abutment.

3. In a panorama-camera, a compartment having a fixed front wall, provided with a light-slit, a rigid abutment arranged back of the slit and having the face opposing the slit curved or rounded, a feed and a storage roller within the compartment and having their shafts permanently j ournaled in a plane in rear of the abutment, and means actuated. by the rotation of the camera to drive the feed-roller to cause it to unwind the film from the storage-roller.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN JAM [ES BAK ER.

IVitnesses JAS. MOLYMONT, D. FRED Won'rn. 

